2014 NFL Draft Player Profiles – Virginia T Morgan Moses

By Alex Kozora

With the regular season over, our focus has shifted to the offseason. For the next few months, I’ll be providing scouting reports on prospects. Some the Pittsburgh Steelers may look at and other top players that will be off the board before they select. All to make you as prepared as possible for the 2014 NFL Draft.

Back to the offensive tackles. Breaking down Virginia offensive tackle Morgan Moses.

You don’t judge a player solely from his Combine numbers. If you did, you’d be missing out on a potentially solid prospect. Because Moses’ Combine was horrendous. Ran the worst ten yard splits of any offensive lineman there and looked awful in drills. The purpose of the Combine is to force scouts to go back and re-watch the tape and see if the two performances match up. For Moses, they don’t.

I expected to see a sluggish, lumbering left tackle. He’s not natural left tackle(more on that later) but a heck of a lot better than I anticipated. Has a burst off the edge and was rarely beat to the outside. And he uses his strength and length effectively to get push speed rushers upfield. Moses wears #78 and spent 2013 as the Cavs left tackle.

And a still to show the arm extension he gets. Attaochu tries to dip around the edge but Moses gets his long arms into his body and doesn’t get beat. Really like not just the length but how effectively Moses uses it.

Because of that upper body strength, can anchor against bull rushes. Shows it early in the year against Oregon.

Sometimes, he’ll just knock someone’s head off in pass protection, too. Always nice to have on your side.

And you see that length and leverage in the run game, too.

Has the strength to dominate as a run blocker.

Effectively takes out two defenders on this reverse.

Although my expectations were relatively low based off the Combine, I came away impressed with how he did in college.

But does it translate? I see some qualities in Moses I currently see in Mike Adams. Has the natural gifts. Huge frame. Long arms. Innate strength. Some athleticism. But he’s not a technician and appears to be getting by on those physical tools. Won’t last at the next level. At least, not at left tackle.

Issues with his foundation. It’s not terrible but there is a tendency to lean over. Leaning Tower of Pisa foundation I noted with Antonio Richardson. See some flatback in pass protection I’d rather not.

Problems with his base. Feet will stop on his punch and he is forced to use his length to seal the end upfield.

Same play but broken down in stills.

Kickslides off the ball (does show that wide base)

Punch, makes contact. So far, not bad.

Feet stop, Moses in trail position.

Same against Georgia Tech.

His kickslide isn’t bad but when sliding laterally, he’ll lose his base.

In my gut, he isn’t going to stay at left tackle. That sentence needs to be qualified with the realization that he has only spent one year on that side and isn’t likely completely comfortable there. Especially spending the previous three seasons developing the muscle memory to kickslide from the right side. Flozell Adams has compared it to writing with your other hand.

Still, I see Moses as a right tackle who will be a strong run blocker and at worst, average pass protector. Going to have to really work at his technique and clean it up. Will no longer be able to get solely by on those physical traits. But the potential is there and he likely won’t struggle with it as much as Mike Adams. That’s borderline impossible. Now, if Moses can’t overcome that, then he’s not going to be a starting-caliber tackle. Leap of faith involved with selecting him.

As we’ve talked about, the Steelers don’t have a pressing need for an offensive tackle. The principle to be taken away from this is the concept that tape overrides what you see at the Combine.

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People keep saying we don’t need to draft o line because beach did so well at the end of the year….I say they’re crazy.…..as much as these guys get hurt? We still need to be drafting o line at the very least for depth…..plus Marcus gilbert is a free agent after this year….and no one knows how beach or mike adams will hold up at left tackle…..I like the kid billy turner for north Dakota state…Morgan moses is a OK prospect too but he’s slated to go like 2nd round and I don’t think the steelers will be drafting oline that high…not even in the third do I think they go oline ….but they need to somewhere….bring a veteran in too as back up depth for cheap…all that

Matt Manzo

There seems to be sooo many knocks on the Tackles in the top 2 rounds? No one jumps out as awesome or someone that could help us right now. I sure hope we wait and if at all, we take a late round OL.

ATL96STEELER

Kalil was the last plug-n-play LT drafted that I can remember…most all of the top OTs are being brought in on the right side and moved over after some seasoning…any team that will put a high priced QB like Ben behind a rookie LT is asking for the same problems we had with Adams.

Depends on the round but OT depth should be addressed and keep Beechum as the swing OT/G if he’s not the starter.

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